Annual report of the Department of Public Health of the Province of Saskatchewan.

  • Saskatchewan. Department of Public Health.
Date:
[1946]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report of the Department of Public Health of the Province of Saskatchewan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    24/116 (page 22)
    Reported Cases of Communicable Disease: Nine thousand eight hundred and seventy two cases of communicable disease were reported to the Division during 1946 in comparison to 5,628 cases in 1945. This represented an increase of 4,244. It will be seen in Table I that this increase is made up mainly of measles and mumps which were epidemic during 1946. Table I shows the incidence of the main communicable diseases in Saskatche¬ wan giving the actual cases reported during 1945, the actual cases reported during 1946 together with the mortality figures for these diseases. It will be seen that the four diseases for which the Division recommends and promotes an immuniza¬ tion programme, the figures were well below the average annual incidence for these diseases, namely smallpox, diphtheria, whooping cough and scarlet fever. Poliomyelitis: The poliomyelitis clinic was operated during 1946 at St. Paul’s Hospital, Saskatoon as in previous years. A total of 31 cases were treated in the polio clinic and 7 remained under treatment December 31st. Although the United States experienced the worst epidemic of infantile paralysis in a decade and Eastern Canada suffered heavily, Saskatchewan escaped very lightly with only 38 cases. Regulations: The Regulations for the Prevention, Notification and Control of Communicable Disease were amended and reprinted in October this year and published in booklet form. The amendments ended the useless practice of placarding for measles, mumps and chickenpox and the quarantine of contacts for measles and chickenpox. These amendments brought the Saskatchewan Regulations into line with modern public health knowledge and practice. The Division was assisted in this work by the fulltime health officers in Saskatchewan and the representative of the College of Physicians and Surgeons. Surveys: * Two surveys were carried out under the auspices of this Division during the summer of 1946. The Rodent Plague Survey was conducted by two students of the University of Saskatchewan. They covered the Western Border and Southern Border of the Province collecting small animals and their parasites. For the first time, plague was discovered in two specimens of fleas collected on the Western Border. It is not considered that these findings indicate a serious threat to the population of Saskatchewan, but it does indicate that such surveys should be carried out from time to time to keep pace with the development of the disease in animals. The second survey was the Encephalitis Research work being carried out by Dr. Rempel of the University of Saskatchewan. In this regard, the Division co-operated with the University of Saskatchewan and the Department of National Health and Welfare. While this survey did not conclusively prove the transmission of encepha¬ litis by insect vectors, important contributions were made to the study of this dis¬ ease. I mmunization: Immunization was stressed during 1946 for smallpox, diphtheria, whooping cough and scarlet fever. In 1946 more materials were distributed for immuniza¬ tion than in any previous year with the exception of 1944. The Division collabor¬ ated with the Division of Health Education in promoting immunization throughout the year. During National Health Week—February of 1946 and during National Immunization Week in October, 1946 an intensive compaign was put on to pro¬ mote immunization. The Division assisted in the preparation of materials for the radio, press, magazines and posters and other literature. Sufficient biological materials were distributed by the Division this year to immunize 50,499 people against diphtheria; 40,368 against whooping cough; 36,450 against scarlet fever and 68,020 against smallpox. The quantities distributed and the cost of these materials will be found in Table X; the various individual products being listed. 4'hroughout this year in which measles was epidemic—2,310 treatment doses of measles anti¬ serum were sent out. This serum was particularly recommended for the small infant as the greatest mortality from measles lies under two years of age.